Door-latching means



E. H. BELDEN.

DOOR LATCHING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED 001.4. 1916.

51,339,492. I Patented May 11, 1920.

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Edward H.eldn

UMTED s'1urr1as` rATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H. BELDEN, OF IETBOIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARD KOTOR CAB COMPANY, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

' noon-Lucarne MEANS.

Specitlcation of Letten Patent.

Application med October 4, 1916. Serial No. 123,721.

To all whom t mag/'concern Be it known that I, EDWARD H. BELDEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Detroit, Waynefcounty, State of Michi an, have invented certain new and useful mrovements in Door-Latching Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor vehicles, and particularly to the door latching means therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide a door latch for use on automobile doors whereby thev door will be securely latched regardless of the twisting or other exceptional movement of the ca r body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch which will remain in latched position and permit separable movement of the door in relation to the door jamb.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the parts of the latch from inadvertently separating.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the several parts so that a maximum of strength and safety iny operation will be secured.

Another object of the invention is to provide operatin parts of simple construction and substantlal proportions whereby dependable action is assured under allconditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for holding the latch securely in latched position until manually released.

Further objects will be evident from the following description taken in connection with the drawings which form a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan sectional view of a portion of the door and door jamb as used in automobile construction and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the invention from the outside'of the door with the outer plates `of the door and door jamb partially broken away. j A y Fig. 3yis a view of the invention as shown i in'Fig.,2 with the door sprung to a slightly separated position from the door jamb; and

Fig. 4 1s a plan sectional view of another Jform of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a lan sectional view showing another form o the, invention.

The 1nvent1on 1s vshown in the accompan ing drawings as adapted to automobile bo y through end walls and 16 of a suitablev casing 17 arranged in the face of the jamb 11. The strike member 13 is beveled at the contacting end 18 thereof and has a transversesquared groovey 19 in the outer face thereof immediately next said beveled end land outside the wall 16 of the casing 17.

The strike member 13 has a limited yielding movement whereby it -is made recedable in the casing 17 and is normally held in mid position by a pair of oppositel coiled springs 2O and 21 mounted on stu pins 22 projecting outwardly from the inner wall of the casing. 17, said springsvhaving the inner ends thereof extending into slots in the stud pins and their outer ends extendin downwardly immediately behind the strilg member and contacting with stop pins 23 and 24 extending from the inner wall of the casing.

The ends of said springs 20 and 21 where they extend below the stop pins 23 and 24 contact with two pins 25 and 26 extending inwardly spring 20 normally retaining the beveled contact end of the strike member from receding into the amb and the spring 21 normally retaining said strike member from being moved in the 'opposite direction, such movement being further limited in a positive manner by a pin ,27 entering through said strike member adjacent the end wall 16. The strike member 13 is thus spring held to a normal mid position and the beveled end may recedeinto the face of the from the strike member 13, thev jamb or maybe withdrawn to a limited extent, always being` returned however, b y the springs -20 an 21 to normal m1d pos1- tion with the squared groove 19 lmmedlately outside the face of the jamb.

The door 12 is formed as hereinbefore mentioned with the edge face step ed to properl meet the door jamb and is urther recessed' at 28 where it meets the strlke A latch caslng 29 1s member 13 on closin fitted in the door and comprises a rear wall 30 and to and bottom walls 31 between which a latch member 32 is pivotally mounted on a pin 33, said latch member being' substantially hook shaped havlng a hooked end 34 projecting from the inner face of the door into the recess 28 and normally held in such position by toggle levers 35 and 36 jointed together at 37 and pivotally fastened at one end thereof to a pln 38 extending through a groove 39 in the latch member 32 and at the opposite end thereof to a pin 40 extending between the walls 31 of the latchV member casin A spring 41 is secured aroundthe pin .40 whereby the toggle is normally held with the joint thereof bearing toward the rear wall 30 of the casing29 and thus locks the ,latch member 32 with the hooked end 34 thereof in its projected position so that when the door is being closed against the jamb said latch' member meets the beveled end of the strike member 13 and forces it to recede against thepressure of thLe spring 20. until the latch member has passed and the strike member is free to spring back to normal position immediately in front of the hooked end of the .latch member and' thus engage and retain the door in its closed position.

To further secure the door in closed position and prevent the hooked member 32 from unlatching, a finger 42 is provided, said finger being pivotally secured at one end thereof on a pin 43 extending between the walls I31 of the latch member casing, and said finger extending along immediately next the pivoted end of the latch member 32 to the squared groove 19 in the strike member 13 where said finger is turned in'- wardly at 44 and engages with said groove and is held normally in such position by a spring 45 encircling the pin 43. l

The door is thussecurely retained l1n its closed position as any movement inwardly or vertically is. prevented by the rigid construction of the several parts, the outward swing of the door is prevented by the en-y gagement of the hooked -end of the latch turned end of the finger 42 which enga es with the squared groove 19 of the strike lstrike member 1-3 member 13 and will withdraw said strike member from the door jamb to always have the strike member andmlatch n member in latched relation one tothe other, such movement of the door directlyV awayl from the jamb being. furtli'er positively prevented in the rear wall of the latch member casing 30 and contacting with the toggle leverimmediately next the joint thereof. Pres#l sure on the button will thus operate the toggle joint 'moving the same to the` position ing the hooked end of the l tch member 32 from engagement with the strike member 13.

(lo-incidently with the withdrawing of the hooked end of the latch member from vthe strike member` as above explained lthe inl shown in dotted lines Fig. land withdrawv wardly turned end 44 of the finger 42 is" moved, from engagement with the squared groove 19 in the strike member 13. This is accomplished by end 50 of the Vlatch member which contacts with the finger 42 adjacent the pivotal point thereof and moves the inturned end outwardly. Thus if the button is only-partially depressed, it will be sufiicient to unlatch the door as the finger is free of the strike member and the latch member is turnedso that the hooked end is angularly set to the strike member and yfurther outward pressure on the door will cause the strike member to recede as on the closing of the door. I.

In closing-the door as hereinbefore explained the strike member, after receding to permit the latch member to pass, will return to its normal position, the finger 42 giving against the pressure of the spring 45 to permit the eend of the strike member yto extend until the inwardly turned endv of said finger can interlockI in the squared .groove 19 ofsaid strike member. also be noticed that the contacting the interlocking parts lare never rigidly held in relation to one anotherland no damage can be done by violently closing the door even when strained from the normal hung position.v lIn the form shown in Fig.` 4,'the is arranged similarly `to the strike member 13 hereinbefore described andl has the groove 19al extending transversely of" the inner face adjacent the beveled end.

The latch member 32'l is pivoted on the pin 33"L substantially in alinement with the faces of It will and immediately the cam shaped pivoted the door with with the latc 1,sse,4on

inner face 'of -the strike member and has the hookedend' 34 slotted at y51 to receive a finger 42 ivoted onthe same pin 33n member 32 and having a toothed end 44 extending into the groove 19* in the strike member. The finger 42* is springheld in position to engage with th e groove 19 by the spring-52 recessed into the latch member; the outward movement of said finger being limited by a stop pin 53 carried by said latch member.

From the above description it wil1 be readily understood that the action in closing the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is vthe same as that described with referenceto Figs. 1, 2 and 3, "that is the strike member recedes as the door is closed and returns on the outside of the latch member until the end of the spring finger 42El interlocks with the strike member in the groove 19". In opening the door the location of the pivot pin '33 permits the latch member to swing to the position shown in dotted lines and clear of the strike member. If the button 46 is only pressed sufiiciently to move the toggle joint 37 to partially withdraw the hooked end of the latch member and further outward pressure is made upon the door the latch member with the finger carried thereby will be forced to recede until clear of the strike member.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 the strike member 13b is similarvto that shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 having the squared groove 19b and the spring 21b yieldingly retaining said strike member in the casing 17", the action of said spring as also the receding travel of the strike member being limited by a stop pin 54.

The latch member 321 in this form is similar to an ordinary latch bolt and is springheld to its projected position by a spring 20b arranged in the latch member casing and similar to the spring 20 herein. before described. The outward movement of the latch member is limited by a stop pin and in closing the door said latch member will recede and pass by the strike member till free to project behind it as in an ordinary latch. j

The latch 'frame however, is formed with a projection 56 corresponding to the inwardly turned end 44 of the finger 42 as hereinbefore described, said projection 56 entering the groove 19b when the door is closed. Thus' when there is any movement of the door to part directly from the jamb the projection 56 will draw the strike member 13b with it and maintain the same relative latched position between said strike and latch members.

To open the door with the form shown in Fig. 5 a button 46b is provided on the inner side of the door and extends through to, contact with one arm of a bell crank 57- partmg strike member against independent separatwithdraw the .latch member past the end of the strike member and permitthe door to he swung open.l Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been described in the above specification, it should be understood that further changes in the construction and arrangement of the coperating parts may be mad-e without defrom the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A door latch comprising a yieldably 3.-

mounted projecting strike member, fa latch member and means separate from and operative with saidlatch memberfor preventing independent separating movement of said strike member.

2. A door latch comprising a spring held projecting strike member, a latch member and means separate from and operative with said latch member for interlocking said ing movement.

3. A door latch comprising a strike member spring held to a mid position and having a beveled -end transverselyy grooved, a latch member contacting with said strike member, a spring held finger engaging with the groove in said strike member and means for withdrawing said latch member and said finger from engagement with said strike member.

4.'A door latch comprising astrike-casing, ay springheld strike in said strike casing, a latch casing, a latch pivoted in said latch casing and substantially hook shaped and engaging said strike, a finger pivoted in said latch casing and engaging said strike and operatively controlled by said latch, and means for withdrawing said latch from engagement with said strike.

5. The combination with la door elementv 115 the reciprocal movement of said strike Inem- 120 ber, a pair of oppositely coiled sprin contained in said strike casing and yiesingly retaining said strike member in a mid posi tion, a latch member secured to the other of said elements and engaging said strike 125 member and a spring held finger operatively connected to said latch member and interlocking with the transverse groove in said strike member.

6. The combination witha door element 130 llO ' supported in one of said elements, a latch member casing arranged in the other of said elements, a latch member substantially v hook shaped to engage with the beveled end of said strike member' and having one end thereofcam shaped and pivoted in said casl ing, a finger pivoted inv said casing and spring held against'the cam'shaped end of said latch member and 'inwardly turned to vinterlock withv the transverse groove in said strike member., and means operatively engagingsaid latch member lfor withdrawing saidlatch member and said finger from engagement withsaid strike member.

7. The-combination with "a 4door element yieldably supported in one of 'said elements and. having a' beveled end transversely grooved, a latch member casing, al latch member pivoted in said latch easingand engagin with said strike member, means` for hol ing said latch member in engagement with said strike member, means for withdrawing said holdingI means and a finger pivotally arranged on said latch member :and spring held into engagement with the transverse groove in said strike member. 8. 'The combination with a door' element 'and' a' jamb element, of a strike lmember yieldably supported in one of said elements, and having a. beveled end transversely grooved, a latch member pivotally supported in the other of said elements and engaging with said strike member to prevent relative lateral movement and a spring held finger pivotally supported on said latch member and interlocking with the transverse groove in saidstrike member to prev vent relative endwisemovement. Y

9. The combination with a door element and a jamb element, "of a strike member movably mounted on one of said elements andspring held to an inner position and having a. transverse groove adjacent the outer' end thereof, means carriedby ,the

. other ofl said elements and engaging with the groove in said'strike member to prevent relative separable movement in one direction and a latch member recedably mounted in the other of said elements and `spring held to its outer position and engaging with said strike 'member to prevent relatively separable movement inanother direction.

10. The combination with a door` element and 'a jamb element, of a strikel member movably mounted on one of said elements and springheld to an inner position and having a transverse groove adjacent the outer end thereof, means carried by the 'other of said elements and engaging with the groove in said strike member to prevent v.ment anc p -prevent relatlve movement between sald relative separable movement in one direction, a latch member recedably mounted in the other Aofsaid elements and spring held to lts outer positionand engaging with said strike member to prevent relatively separable movement in another direction, and a withl to. Imove the same to its recedable' positlon from engagement with said strike member.

ried by one ofzsaid elements, a latch member carried by the other of said elements, and arranged to takea position behind the strike Y p '.member when the dooris closed, and means and a jaunb@element, of 'astrike member Said latch member carrying elecarried b lyengz'iging'said strike member to strike and latch members.

bell crank lever pivoted adjacent said latch member Aand v operatively connected there- '12. In a door latch., the Combination, with the door element and the jamb element, ofv

an extensible projecting strike member carried by one of said elements, and having a transverse notch in'oner face, a latch member carried by the other of said elements,

and arranged to take a position behind the strike member when the door is closed, and means carried by said latch member carrying element, and engaging the notch in said strike member to prevent movement of said member relative to said latch member.

13. In a door latch, the combination .with the door element andthe jamb element, of a slidable strike member mounted in one of said elements, a pivoted latch member mounted in the' other of said elements,

means mounted -on one member and posi'-v tively engaging the othermember to prevent relative movement between said members and spring operated means acting on said first named means for holding said means in engaging position.

.14. In a door latch, the combination with the door element andthe jamb element, of a slidable strike member, mounted in one of said elements, a pivoted latch member mounted in the other of said elements, means mounted on one member and positively engaging the other member to prevent relative movement between said members, spring operated means acting on said first named means for holding said means in engaging posltlon, and a devlce actln'g on said sprlng operated'-`means' to disengage said first named means from said members.A

.15. In a door latch, the combination `with i the door element and the jamb element, of a slidable strike membervmounted in one of said elements,.`equalized spring means tending to hold lsaid strike member in mid position with one end projectingfrom said element, a latch Amember,.adapted to engage said strike member, carried by the other of said elements, and a finger also mounte in said latch member carrying element and adapte to engageV said strike member and prevent movement of said strike member reiative to said latch member.

16. n a door atch, the combination of a door element and a jamb element, of a slidabie strike member mountedin one of said elements, a latch member mounted in the other of said elements, said Strike member having a notch therein, and a finger mounted on said latch carrying element for engaging said notch and holding said strike member in latching engagement with said latch member.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD H. BELDEN. 

